LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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Charter of 3 warpotattan, 

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS 



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^ms smmM^r mOTiFTOig 



THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA* 

FOR THE 

PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS. 



TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, 
A LIST 



A LIST OF MEMBERS, AND OF THE OFFICERS FOR 1144. 

TOGETHER WITH 

THE FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE BOARD OF 

MANAGERS, MADE TO THE INSTITUTE AT A 

MEETING HELD APRIL 15TH, 1824, 



Published by Order of the Institute. 
PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed by William Fry, George Street near Sixth Street. 

1824. 



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At a Stated Meeting of the Franklin Institute of the 
State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Me- 
chanic Arts, held April 15th, 1824, the Board of Ma- 
kers offered their First Quarterly Report, which was 
ad, together with the accompanying documents. 
On Motion, 
Resolved, that the Report be accepted. 
Resolved, that the Board of Managers be authorised 
to publish, in the pamphlet form, and in the city pa- 
pers, the Report, and such of the documents as they 
may think fit. 

JAMES RONALDSON, 
President 
Wm. Strickland, 
Secretary. 



AN ACT 

To incorporate the Franklin Institute of 
Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the 
Mechanic Arts. 



Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the Commonxvealth of 
Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That 
the subscribers to the association called the Frank* 
lin Institute of the state of Pennsylvania for the 
Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, and all such per- 
sons as may be hereafter admitted members of the 
same, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be, 
a body politic and corporate, by the name and style 
of " The Franklin Institute of the state of Pennsyl- 
vania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, 5 ' 
to have perpetual succession, to sue and be sued, 
implead and be impleaded , in all courts of record or 
elsewhere, to use a common seal, and break, alter, 
and renew the same at pleasure, and to take, hold, 
and enjoy lands, tenements, and hereditaments- 
Provided that the clear yearly income of the real 
estates held by them shall not exceed two thousand 
dollars. 



Section 2. And be it further enacted by the an- 
thority aforesaid, That the objects of the said corpo- 
ration shall be the promotion and encouragement of 
manufactures and the mechanic and useful arts, by 
the establishment of popular lectures on the sciences 
connected with them, by the formation of a cabinet 
of models and minerals, and a library, by offering 
premiums on all objects deemed worthy of encou- 
ragement, by examining all new inventions sub- 
mitted to them, and by such other measures as they 
may judge expedient. 

Section 3, And be it further enacted by the au- 
thority aforesaid, That the members of the said cor- 
poration shall consist of manufacturers, mechanics, 
artizans, and persons friendly to the mechanic arts; 
they shall pay such sum annually or in gross as \ 
shall be required by the by-laws of the said corpo-v 
ration for an annual or a life subscription; Provided^ 
that nothing herein contained shall be construed to 
prevent the said corporation from electing honorary 
or corresponding members, who may be exempted 
from such payments and other duties of member- 
ship, in such manner and to such extent as may be 
prescribed by the by-laws of the said corporation. 

Section 4. And be it further enacted by the au- 
thority aforesaid, That the officers of the said cor- 
poration shall be a president, two vice-presidents, a 
recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a 
treasurer, and twenty-four managers, who shall to- 
gether constitute a board of managers of the said 
corporation, and such other officers as the said cor- 
poration shall deem needful ; two-thirds of the ma- 
nagers shall be manufacturers or mechanics : the 



said officers shall be elected at an annual meeting 
of the said corporation, to be held on the third 
Thursday of January, if an election shall not take 
place on that day, the corporation shall not for that 
cause be dissolved, but an election shall be held as 
soon afterwards as may be, and until such election 
the officers in place shall continue to act; public no- 
tice of all, elections shall be given in such manner 
as may be prescribed by the by-laws of the said cor- 
poration; the present officers of the said association 
are hereby constituted the officers of the corporation 
hereby created; and shall continue to hold their re- 
spective offices till others are elected under the pro- 
visions of this act; Provided always, that the said 
corporation shall have power to increase the num- 
ber of vice-presidents and managers herein-before 
mentioned, to such number as may be deemed ad- 
visable and convenient at a stated meeting of the 
said corporation, the same public notice of such in- 
tended alteration being previously given as may be 
required to be given of the election of officers of the 
said corporation. 

Section 5. And be it further enacted by the au- 
thority aforesaid, That the duties and rights of the 
members of the said corporation, the powers and 
functions of the officers thereof herein-before men- 
tioned, and of such others as may hereafter be 
added, the mode of supplying vacancies in office, 
the times of meeting of the said corporation, and of 
the board of managers, the numbers which shall 
constitute a quorum at any such meetings, the mode 
of electing members, the terms of their admission, 
the causes which shall justify their suspension or 

A2 



expulsion from the corporation, and all other con- 
cerns of the said corporation shall be regulated by 
the by-laws and ordinances of the said corporation 
hereafter to be made, which the said corporation is 
hereby authorized and empowered to make and 
alter, in the manner which may be therein mention- 
ed ; Provided that the said by-laws or ordinances 
shall not be repugnant to or inconsistent with the 
constitution and laws of the United States or of 
this Commonwealth. 

Office of the Clerk of the Senate of the Com- 
monwealth of Pennsylvania, March 30th, 
1824. 
I certify that the foregoing Bill passed both 
branches of the Legislature, and received the signa- 
ture of the Governor on this day. As witness my 
hand the day and year above written, 

(Signed) 

JNO. D. PRICE, Clerk. 



CONSTITUTION*, 

Adopted February 5th, 1824. 



I. Title. 

The Society shall be known by the name of the 
" Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania 
for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts.' 5 

The object of this Institute shall be the promo- 
tion and encouragement of Manufactures and the 
Mechanic and Useful Arts, by the establishment of 
Popular Lectures on the Sciences connected with 
them ; by the formation of a Cabinet of Models 
and Minerals, and a Library ; by offering Premiums 
on all objects deemed worthy of encouragement ; 
by examining all new Inventions submitted to them, 
and by such other means as they may judge expe- 
dient. 

II. Members. 

1. The Members of this Institute shall consist of 
Manufacturers, Mechanics, Artisans, and persons 
friendly to the Mechanic Arts. 

2. Any person desirous of becoming a Member 
shall be proposed by two Members of the Society 
to the Board of Managers, who shall decide on his 



8 

application at the next meeting. Any person who 
may have been rejected by the Managers may ap- 
peal to the next /quarterly meeting. 

3. No person shall be entitled to the privileges 
of Membership until he shall have paid his first 
annual contribution, and have signed this Consti- 
tution. 

4. Honorary or Corresponding Members may be 
elected by the Board of Managers at their discre- 
tion, and shall be reported at the next ensuing 
meeting of the Institute. 

III. Meetings. 

1. The Stated Quarterly Meetings of the Institute 
shall be held on the third Thursday in January, 
April, July, and October, at half-past six o'clock, 
P.M. % 

2. Special Meetings shall be called by order of 
the President, on application of the Board of Ma- 
nagers, or twelve Members. Fifteen Members shall 
constitute a quorum. 

IV, Payments. 

1. Every Member shall pay an annual contribu- 
tion of three dollars, which will entitle him to all 
the benefits of the Institution. 

2. The payment of twenty-five dollars shall con- 
stitute a Member for life, with an exemption from 
all annual payments. 

V. Officers. 

The Officers of the Institute shall be a President, 
two Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Cor- 



responding Secretary, a Treasurer, and twenty-four 
Managers, to be chosen annually. Two thirds of 
the Managers shall be Manufacturers or Mechanics. 

VI. Elections. 

The first Election for Officers of the Institute 
shall be held on Monday, the 16th day of February 
instant, and the subsequent annual Elections shall 
be held on the third Thursday in January ; but if 
mo Election shall take place at that Meeting, the Of- 
ficers in existence shall continue in office till a new 
Election be held. No Member shall be entitled to 
vote until all arrears shall have been paid. 

VII. President. 

It shall be the duty of the President, or, in case of 
his absence, of the senior Vice-President, or, in their 
absence, of a President to be chosen pro tempore, 
to preside at the Meetings of the Institute, to pre- 
serve order therein, to put all questions, and an- 
nounce the decisions. 

VIII. Secretaries. 

1. It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary 
to keep a record of the proceedings of all Meetings 
of the Institute, and to give notice of the stated and 
special Meetings. 

2. It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Se- 
cretary, to answer all letters addressed to the Insti- 
tute, to open and maintain such correspondence as 
may tend to advance its interest, and to keep a re- 
cord of such correspondence, subject to the direc- 



10 

ttons of the Board of Managers ; he shall notify all 
honorary or corresponding Members of their Elec- 
tion. 

IX. Treasurer. 

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect 
and receive all monies of the Institute. He shall 
make no payments without written vouchers from 
the Board of Managers. He shall keep accurate ac- 
counts of the Income and Disbursements of the In- 
stitute ; exhibit an accurate statement of his receipts 
and payments at the Quarterly Meetings of the In- 
stitute, and whenever called upon by the Board of 
Managers, and give bond for the faithful perform- 
ance of his trust. 

X. Managers. 

1. All the Officers of the Society shall be Mem- 
bers of this Board, and to the said Board shall be 
confided, in general, the various objects and concerns 
of the Institute, with authority to devise and execute 
all measures which may advance its interests. 

2. They shall keep regular Minutes of their pro- 
ceedings, and submit them to the Institute when 
called upon. 

3. They shall, at the quarterly Meetings of the 
Institute, present a detailed report of their pro- 
ceedings. 

4. They shall hold stated meetings once in each 
month. They shall elect their own officers, and be 
at liberty to make by-laws for their own regulation, 
and that of the Institute. Seven of their number 
shall constitute a quorum. 



11 

3. They shall have power to fill vacancies in their 
Board from Members of the Institute. 

XI. 

To alter or amend this Constitution, notice shall 
be given, stating the intended Amendment, at any- 
Meeting of the Institute, and it shall be acted upon 
at the next or any subsequent Meeting. If two- 
thirds of the Members then present approve of it, it 
shall become part of the Constitution. 



BY-LAWS 

Adopted by the Board of Managers. 



Article 1. 

The Officers of the Board shall be a Chairman, 
a Secretary, and two Curators, 

Article 2. 

The Chairman shall preside at the Meetings of 
the Board ; he shall sign all orders upon the Trea- 
surer of the Institute, when the accounts shall have 
been passed by the Board ; and shall call special 
Meetings, whenever he shall receive a written re- 
quest signed by five Members. 

Article 3. 

The Secretary shall keep correct records of all pro- 
ceedings of the Board, subject at all times to the in- 
spection of any of its Members, he shall notify every 
Committee of their appointment, through their 
Chairman, and shall transmit to him any documents 
relative thereto, within two days after the appoint- 
ment of the Committee. He shall keep a roll of the 



18 

Members' names, and at every meeting note the 
absentees. He shall give notice of every meeting 
of the Board by printed circulars. He shall lend 
no document or paper of the Board to any Mem- 
ber thereof, without a receipt. He shall keep a roll 
of the Members of the Institute, classed according 
to their occupations, and it shall also be the duty of 
the Secretary to attest all orders drawn by the 
Board. 

Article 4. 

The Curators shall have charge of all the pro- 
perty of the Institute, except the records, papers, 
and books, which may be assigned to any of its 
Officers, 

Article 5. 

The stated Meetings of the Board shall be held 
on the first Thursday in each month, at six o'clock, 
P. M. from the stated Meetings in October to that 
in March, and at 7 o'clock, P. M. during the other 
months. 

Artitle 6. 

The order of business at the meetings of the Board 
shall be, 1st, reading the minutes; 2d > new busi- 
ness; 3d, reports from standing committees ; 4th, 
reports from select committees; 5th, proposal of 
candidates ; 6th, elections ; 7th, calling the roll. 

Article 7. 

Standing Committees shall be nominated by the 
Chairman, and approved of by the Board, on: 1st, 
iinance 2d, lectures; 3d, library; 4th, cabinet of 

B 



14 

models and minerals; and 5th, on premiums anc£ 
exhibitions ; each to consist of five members. 

Article 8. 

Committees on the examination of any new Ma- 
chine or Invention which may be offered, shall be 
appointed in the following manner: the Chairman 
of the Board shall nominate one of the Members 
thereof, who, when approved of, shall act as Chair- 
man of the Committee ; and the other Members of 
the Committee shall be nominated and elected by 
the Board from any Members of the Institute. 

Article 9. 

All other select Committees shall be nominated in 
the following manner: the Chairman shall nominate 
to the Board the Chairman of the Committee, who 
shall name a second Member, and he a third, &c. 
until the whole number be filled, a vote being taken 
upon each. 



OFFICERS 
Of the Franklin Institute for 1824. 

JAMES RONALDSON, President. 

MATHEW CAREY, 1 r . " 

> Vice-Presidents* 
ISAIAH LUKENS, 5 

William Strickland, Recording Secretary* 

Peter A. Browne, Corresponding Secretary . 

Thomas Fletcher, Treasurer. 



Managers. 

1. Robert Patterson, 13. William Abbott, 

2. Paul Beck, jun. 14. John D. Eisenhut, 

3. Thomas Leiper, 15. David H. Mason, 

4. John Harrison, 16. John P. Wetherill, 

5. Thomas Gilpin, 17. Clement C. Biddle, 

6. Samuel R. Wood, 18. Adam Ramage, 

7. Henry Horn, 19. James J. Rush, 

8. W. H. Keating, 20. James Clarke, 

9. J. Katez, 21. Abraham Miller, 

10. Daniel Groves, 22. M. T. Wickham, 

11. John Haviland, 23. James Harper, 

12. Samuel V. Merrick, 24. Jos. Cloud. 



16 



Standing Committees, 

Committee on Lectures* 

Peter A. Browne, 
M. Carey, 
Samuel R. Wood, 
Samuel V. Merrick, 
W. Strickland. 

Committee on Finance* 

James Harper, 
Henry Horn, 
Clement C. Biddle, 
Mathew Carey, 
Thomas Gilpin, 

Committee on Library, 

Mathew Carey, 
J. Katez, 

Samuel V. Merrick, 
William H. Keating, 
Peter A. Browne. 

Committee on Cabinet of Models and Mine- 
rals. 

Isaiah Lukens, 
John D. Eisenhut, 
John P. Wetherill, 
David H. Mason, 
John Haviland; 



17 

Committee on Premiums and Exhibitions. 
James Ronaldson, 
Robert Patterson, 
Thomas Fletcher, 
Adam Ramage, 
James J. Rush. 



B 2 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



John Agnew, Fire Engine Maker, 

Thos. Astley, Merchant, 

"William Abbot, Brewer, 

William Abrahams, Printer, 

William' Adams, Teacher, 

Asher Atkinson, Saddler, 

Rev. G T. Bedell, 

Paul Beck, Jr. Shot Manufacturer, 

Robert Bald, 

George Blight, Merchant, 

ick Browr, Druggist, 
Mose^ Brown, Merchant, 
Peter A. Browne, Counsellor, 
Samuel Baker, Carpenter. 
Samuel Budd, Stove Manufacturer, 
Charles N. Bancker, Merchant, 
William Y. Birch, Bookseller, 
Clement C. Biddle, Notary Public, 
M. W. Baldwin, Machinist, 
Samuel Brashears, Attorney at Law, 
Marcus Bull, Gold Beater, 
James Baker, 

Davivi Paul Brown, Counsellor, 
John C . Browne, Shipsmith, 
Joseph Biddle, 
William Bozarth, Carpenter, 
Nicholas Biddle, President U. S. Bank, 
Newson Baker, 



19 

Joseph Burden, Chair Manufacturer, 

J. S. Barnard, 

William T. Bladen, 

George E. Blake, Musical Composer, 

Wm. C. Beck, Manufacturer of Paper Hangings, 

Thomas Biddle, Broker, 

Joseph Barry, Cabinetmaker, 

Samuel F. Bradford, Printer and Bookseller, 

C. G. Childs, Engraver, 

Mathew Carey, late Printer and Bookseller, 

Henry C. Carey, Printer and Bookseller, 

R. A. Caldcleugh, 

Richard Cooper, Carpenter, 

Owen Cotton, Machinist, 

Solomon Cartmell, Blacksmith, 

Hugh Campbell, Plumber, 

George N. Clarke, Machinist, 

George R. Crooks, Currier, 

B- P. Coston, Carver, 

Joseph Carter, 

William Christie, Upholsterer, 

William Curtis, 

John R. Coxe, M. D. 

Joseph Cloud, Refiner of Mint, 

J. W. Condy, Counsellor, 

James Clarke, Carpenter, 

John Clark, 

James Crissy, Bookseller and Binder, 

Henry L. Coryell, Carpenter, 

Turner Camac, 

Isaiah Chapman, 

William Cannon, Hatter, 

W. P. Dewees, M. D. 



20 

Alfred Drake, Druggist, 

Charles A. Droz, Horologist, 

Adam Dialogue, 

Robert De Silver, Printer and Bookseller, 

Joseph Donaldson, Hatter, 

John Daves, 

Henry During, 

John Dickinson, 

Victor Du Pont, Cloth Manufacturer, 

Benjamin Duncan, Wood Corder. 

James Dougherty, Tailor, 

John Dowers, Distiller, 

E. J. Dupont, Powder Manufacturer, 

Isaac Deanes, 

John D. Eisenhut, Coppersmith, 

James English, Blacksmith, 

Hugh English, Blacksmith, 

Levi Ellmaker, Merchant, 

Adam Eckfeldt, Coiner of Mint, 

John P. Earnhart, Turner, 

Samuel Emery, Bleacher of Wax, 

James Earle, Carver and Gilder, 

William Edwards, Painter, 

Oliver Evans, Founder, 

Charles Evans, Blacksmith, 

Thomas Fletcher, Silversmith,* 

Gideon Fairman, Engraver, 

Alexander Fullerton, Druggist, 

William Fry, Printer, 

Robert M. Ford, Copperplate Printer, 

James Field, Merchant, 

Frederick Fraley, Baker, 

Benjamin F.JFrench, 



21 

David Folley, Saddler, 

Nathaniel Foible, Hatter, 

William Gibson, M D. Surgeon, 

John Garrat, File Cutter, 

Isaac B- Garrigues, Marble Mason, 

William Garrigues, Jr. Carpenter, 

Robt. E. Griffith, M. D. 

David Gallagher, M. D 

Jonas Gleason, Hardware Manufacturer, 

Thomas Gilpin, Paper Manufacturer, 

Charles Graff, Merchant, 

Samuel N. Gray, Brewer, 

Daniel Groves, Bricklayer, 

Frederick Gaul, Brewer, 

Thomas F. Gordon, Counsellor, 

Joseph George, Currier, 

Sam el Graham, 

William Gardner, 

Robert Hare, M. D. Professor of Chemistry 

John Harrison, Operative Chemist, 

George Hyde, Bookseller and Binder, 

George Harley, Coppersmith, 

Joseph P. Hamelin, Printer, 

John Haviland, Architect, 

Henry Horn, Silverplater, 

Jesper Harding, Printer, 

Isaac Hays, M. D. 

Reuben Haines, Agriculturalist, 

Benjamin B. Howell, Merchant, 

William S. Han sell, Sadler, 

Thomas Hughes, Teacher, 

Peter Hertzogg, Sugar Refiner, 

Thomas Halloway, Steam Engine Maker, 



22 

Christopher M. Hocker, Marble Mason, 

Thomas Hulme, Bleacher, 

James Hays, Jr. 

William C. Hancock, 

Adam Herkness, Marble Mason, 

John Hanna, ' 

Edmund Hollinshead, 

Paul K. Hubbs, Merchant, 

James Harper, Brickmaker, 

Philip Justus, Carpenter, 

William Jones, Secretary N. A. Insurance Co. 

George Jeffries, Coachmaker, 

John Johnston, 

Edward D. Ingraham, Counsellor, 

Alphonso C. Ireland, Carpenter, 

John James, Jr. Cabinetmaker, 

John Johnson, Wheelwright, 

Paul Jones, Paper and Pasteboard Manufacturer, 

William Kneass, Engraver of Mint, 

Wm. H. Keating, Professor of Chemistry, 

John H. Kane, Counsellor, 

J. Katez, Bookbinder, 

Christian Kneass, Silverplater, 

John C. Kinnan, 

William Keer, Rope Maker, 

Samuel Kennedy, Carver and Gilder, 

Robert Kid, Coppersmith, 

John Keating, Jr. Counsellor, 

Michael Katez, Bellhanger, 

John Kenworthey, Painter and Glazier, 

S. H. Long, Major U. S. Engineer Corps, 

Thomas Linnard, Lumber Merchant, 

B.B, Lippincott, Hatter, 



2$ 

M. D. Lewis, Merchant, 

George S. Lang, Engraver, 

Samuel Lyon, Tinplate Worker, 

Isaiah Lukens, Machinist, 

James B. Longacre, Engraver, 

Joseph S. Lovering, Bell Founder? 

Clement Letourno, Smith, 

Harvey Lewis, Silversmith, 

Charles Lex, Jr. Merchant, 

Thomas Leiper, Tobacconist, 

— — Myers, Painter, 

Prosper Martin, Steam Engine Maker, 

James Mease, M, D. 

Samuel V. Merrick, Fire Engine Maker* 

Thomas M'Euen, M. D. 

David H. Mason, Machinist, 

William Mayweg, 

John Mortimer, Bookseller, 

J. Muhlenberg, P. D. 

William H. M'Dowell, Horologist, 

Abraham Miller, Potter, 

Arthur Murphy, Bricklayer, 

Thomas M. Morris, Brewer, 

George W. Mentz, Bookbinder, 

John McAllister, 

James M 4 Alpin, Draper, 

Clements S. Miller, Counsellor, 

Robert M'Minn, Blacksmith, 

John Monell, Draper, 

Hezekiel Newcomb, 

Robert E. Nuttle, Coachmaker, 

John Norvell, Printer, 

Charles CHara, Type Founder, 



24 

John O'Neill, Carpenter, 

Robert O'Neill, Carpenter, 

Robert M. Patterson, M. D. Professor of Natural 

Philosophy, 
John Hare Powel, Agriculturalist, 
Robert Patterson, Director of Mint, 
Jacob Peirce, Teacher, 
Edward Pennington, Jr. Sugar Refiner, 
James C. Prichett, Currier, 
John W. Patten, 
Charles P. Parke, Founder, 
John J. Phillips, 
Edward Poole, Coachmaker, 
Richard Peters, Jr. Counsellor, 
Daniel Pryor, 
A. Plantou, Dentist, 
John Pierce, Plumber, 
Adam Partenheimer, Brewer, 
Andrew M. Prevost, Broker, 
Benjamin F. Pomeroy, 
Daniel Poole, 

James Ronaldson, Type Founder, 
Richard Ronaldson, Type Founder, 
James J. Rush, Iron Founder, 
William Roland, Saw Manufacturer, 
Horatio G. Rowley, Plumber, 
Mark Richards, Iron Founder, 
Henry J. Riehle, 
Charles Robb, Draper, 
Adam Ramage, Printing Press Maker, 
Israel Roberts, Coppersmith, 
John Richardson, Bookseller and Printer, 
George Rumst, 
William H. C. Riggs, 



25 

Aaron Ross, Saddler, 

William Rush, Carver, 

James Roland, Iron Master, 

Benjamin Robbins, Carpenter, 

John Roberts, Accountant, 

Daniel B. Smith, Druggist, 

E. Spencer Sergeant, Counsellor, 

Daniel Smith, Carpenter, 

Isaac Starr, 

John Struthers, Marble Mason, 

Felix Thibault, Jeweller, 

William Strickland, Architect and Engineer, 

John T. Sullivan, Bookbinder, 

John E. Schivars, 

Joshua Shaw, Artist, 

Joseph H. Schreiner, Hardware Merchant, 

Joseph H. Smith, Accountant, 

Edward Shelmerdine, Hatter, 

L. Steganini, Marble Mason, 

Asa Spencer, Machinist, 

George W. Smith, Counsellor, 

James Somerville, Iron Founder, 

Powell Stackhouse, Carpenter, 

John Speakman, Druggist, 

Thomas Snowden, Carpenter, 

Christian Sulgar, 

Job R. Smith, 

William Savery, 

Benjamin Stancliffe, Machinist, 

John H. Schrader, 

Samuel M. Stewart, Manufact. of Paper Hangings, 
Jacob Seniff, 
John Simmons, 

C 



26 

Joseph R. A. Skerret, Printer, 
James Simpson, Combmaker, 
Thomas Scheiber, 

Frederick Straley, Saddle Tree Maker* 
Jacob Stockman, Thimble Maker, 
Richard M. Small, Bookseller, 
George Trueman, Tin Manufacturer, 
John Tennent, Stone Cutter, 
Thomas Taylor, Currier, 
Thomas. K. Tresse, Carpenter, 
Joseph M. Trueman, Tin Plate Worker^ 
Samuel Thackara, Plasterer, 
Benjamin Tucker, Teacher, 
Thomas Underwood, Engraver, 
John Vaughan, Merchant, 
M. R. Vanhorn, Carver, 
Roberts Vaux, 

C. C. Watson, Jr. Draper, 
Samuel R. Wood, Tanner, 
M. T. Wickham, Gunsmith, 
James Whitaker, 

John VVickersham, 

Charles H. White, Cabinetmaker, 

D. Winebrenner, Draper, 
John P- Wetherill, Chemist, 
Henry R. Watson, 
Joseph Watson, Draper, 
Charles Wetherill, Druggist, 
J. Watson, Lumber Merchant, 

Wm. M. Walmsley, Stock, &c. Broker, 
William Woodward, Printer and Bookseller, 
James B. Wood, 
George Wilson, Leather Manufacturer. 



FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT, 

Made to the Institute, at a Meeting held 
April 15, 1824. 



To the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania 
for the promotion of the Mechanic Arts. 

The Board of Managers, in pursuance of Article 
V. Section 3, of the Constitution, offer their first 
Quarterly Report of the Transactions of the Board. 

Within three days after their election, your Board 
met and organized themselves, by the election of 
Robert Patterson, Esquire, as their Chairman, 
and William Strickland, as their Secretary. 

A Committee was appointed to prepare By-laws, 
which, after having been submitted to the Board, 
were adopted, and of which a copy is hereto an- 
nexed. 

The necessity of obtaining a charter of incorpo- 
ration without delay, and the advanced stage of the 
session of the General Assembly, induced your 
Board to lose no time in applying for an Act to this 
effect, which they have great pleasure in stating was 
granted previous to the adjournment, and which, 
from the copy now presented to the Institute, will 
be found to embrace every object which the Society 



28 

might wish for, and to leave it unshackled in the 
adoption of any measure that may hereafter appear 
conducive to the advantage of the Institute. 

Your Board have found with great pleasure, that 
as the objects of the Society became generally known, 
they met with the approbation of the community at 
large, of which a flattering evidence will be found 
in the annexed list of the members ; and from 
the number that have desired their names to be 
inscribed on the list of candidates, and whose 
election is necessarily postponed until the next 
meeting of the Board, there is every reason to ex- 
pect a great and rapid increase in the number of 
members. 

Your Board have been anxious to commence im- 
mediately the usefulness of the Institute, by th§ 
establishment of popular lectures during the present 
season ; but as the funds of the Society are still very 
low, they have had recourse to the zeal of their 
members, and are happy to state that the Introduc- 
tory Lecture, which will be delivered on Wednesday, 
the 28th instant, by Dr. Robert M. Patterson, will be 
followed by volunteer lectures, to be delivered by 
some of the Members, every Wednesday evening, 
at seven o'clock, and to these the attention of the 
Members is earnestly called. 

An object of equal, if not of greater importance 
than the preceding, is that of public exhibitions, to 
which all the products of national industry may be 
sent ; the effect and consequence of such exhibitions 
will necessarily be to extend the reputation of the 
Institute, to stimulate the zeal of the members, and to 
excite a proper degree of emulation and of justifia- 



29 

ble rivalry among the numberless manufacturers and 
mechanics of this city. It is confidently believed 
that when the products of our industry are collected 
from the various workshops now dispersed through- 
out the city and state, and exhibited together, they 
will form a collection calculated to excite a gratify- 
ing sense of pride in the bosom of every well-wisher 
to the prosperity of our manufactures, and an en- 
couraging hope that, under proper regulations, we 
may soon compete with foreigners in the manufac- 
ture of all useful articles. 

By bringing together the various products of our 
workshops, we shall soon discover what manufac- 
tures flourish in the country — what objects are suc- 
cessfully prepared by our mechanics— and in what 
respects they are deficient. Great as is the merit of 
new inventions, your Board is convinced that to at- 
tain perfection of workmanship in old established 
inventions, is an object of at least as great impor- 
tance — and hence, the principle which they have 
adopted as the basis of the exhibition to which they 
now invite your attention, is, that perfection in work- 
manship is to be encouraged, as well as novelty in 
invention. But to obtain perfection of workman- 
ship, necessarily requires that a sufficient time should 
be allowed to the mechanic to prepare with care those 
objects which he wishes to submit to the scrutini- 
zing eye of the public. Under this impression, and 
with a view of holding the exhibitions at that time 
of the year when the greatest concourse of strangers 
in our city can be expe« ', i * I have resol- 
ved that the exhibitions shall be held at the time of 
the Quarterly Meeting in October of every year. 

C2 



30 

The plan of the exhibition to be held in October 
next, as well as the conditions under which the ar- 
ticles may be deposited on that occasion, at present 
occupy the attention of your Board, and as soon as 
they shall have been prepared, they will be commu- 
nicated to the public through the medium of the pa- 
pers. Your Board beg leave, most earnestly, to sub- 
mit to the Institute the necessity of every Member's 
using his efforts to give popularity and renown to 
the exhibition, by sending to it objects of his own 
manufacture, or by calling to it the attention of 
those whose products would, in his opinion, be ho- 
nourable to the country. 

As connected with this subject, the Board wish to 
call your attention to that provision of the Consti- 
tution, which declares, that they shall examine all 
new inventions submitted to them. Your Board 
would have found themselves unable to do justice to 
this subject, unless they had adopted that By-law 
which allows them to appoint Committees from the 
Society at large, for the examination of new ma- 
chines or inventions. In the performance of this 
useful and interesting task, the Board flatter them- 
selves that they will meet with the cordial assistance 
of every Member of the Society. 

Several machines have already been laid before 
them, upon which it is expected that detailed re- 
ports will be made — of these, the Board will take 
measures to submit to the Society all such as may 
appear of general interest. 

Among the objects which your Board have in 
immediate contemplation, are the following, viz. 

I. The obtaining of a suitable room for the Meet* 



31 



ings of the Institute. 2. The formation of a Library. 
3. The creation of a Cabinet of Minerals and Mo- 
dels of Machines. 

In the execution of these plans, as much economy 
as possible will be used, for the funds of the Society 
are still in their infancy; but they flatter themselves 
that by the liberality of the members in particular, 
and of the public at large, the expense attending the 
formation of a Library will be considerably reduced. 
To avoid all unnecessary expenditures, the Library 
and Cabinet shall be placed under the control of 
Curators, who being Members of this Board, will 
attend to this duty without any compensation, and 
thereby a saving of considerable importance to the 
Society in its origin will be effected. The Board 
have to acknowledge, that a liberal spirit towards 
the Library has already been manifested by several 
Members, who have promised to assist in its for- 
mation. The Curators elected for the present year, 
are David H. Mason, and Samuel V. Merrick. 

The Corresponding Secretary has, at the request 
of the Board, notified the formation of the Institute 
to all similar Societies known to your Managers ; 
and it is intended that an active correspondence 
shall be kept up with all persons able to further the 
views of the Institute. As it is important that the 
Members should be made acquainted, as soon as 
possible, with all new inventions made throughout 
the Union, measures have been taken by the Board, 
to obtain as early as possible, a list of the patents 
granted in the city of Washington ; and whenever 
the importance of the subject will warrant it, copies 



32 

of the specifications upon the most reasonable terms 
will be procured. 

There are objects of still greater importance, 
which the Board entertain a hope, may at some fu- 
ture day be within the means of the Society — fore- 
most among these would be the establishment of an 
Experimental Workshop and Laboratory, for the 
better instruction of Members, by the results of ex- 
perience — but this would require a much larger 
sum of money than the Society has at present at its 
disposal. All that your Board will therefore ven- 
ture to suggest on this subject is, that the Society 
should not lose sight of it, but embrace the first op- 
portunity of stamping upon their Institution the 
greatest degree of usefulness, by the creation of 
such an experimental school. 

Perhaps a measure of equal importance would be 
the publication of a Journal, on the plan of that 
lately commenced in London, and of which it is 
said, that one hundred thousand copies are sold in 
London, and its immediate vicinity. No doubt can 
exist that such a Journal would diffuse among our 
mechanics, at a low rate, much useful information ; 
that it would contribute to make known without de- 
lay, the improvements of our artists, and by secur- 
ing to them the merit of their discoveries, would 
afford them both wealth and reputation. But it can- 
not be doubted, that the establishment of such a 
Journal at this time would be premature, and that 
it might involve the Society in difficulties, which it 
is peculiarly desirable to avoid at the origin of our 
Institution. 



83 

In the meanwhile, as the first step towards the at- 
tainment of this object, your Board would call your 
attention to a Journal of this kind, which is pro- 
posed to be published under the direction of one of 
the officers of the sister Society, in the city of New 
York. Next to achieving ourselves a desirable ob- 
ject, the best measure is to encourage the efforts of 
others. Nothing can promote our views more ef- 
fectually, than what has a tendency to disseminate 
knowledge, whatever may be the source from which 
it proceeds. 

The report of the Treasurer hereto annexed, 
will show you that active measures have been taken 
to collect the dues from the Members. This course 
has been judged to be useful, not only to the So- 
ciety, but also to the individuals that compose it. 
By suffering their contributions of this year to remain 
unpaid, the Members would but increase the diffi- 
culty of meeting that of the next year. Hence, such 
of you as have not yet been called upon, are re- 
quested to prepare yourselves to pay immediately 
a contribution, which, small as it is at first, might, 
by accumulating it for several years, become a 
burthen. 

The expenses will be found to have been but in- 
considerable as yet. The Board wish to accumu- 
late their funds, and mature their plans before they 
incur any expense. 

The importance of creating a permanent fund, to 
meet the future exigencies of the Institution, has 
been felt by the Board ; and with a view to this 
effect, they have passed a resolution expressive 



84 

of their belief in the expediency of the measure, 
and authorising the Treasurer to purchase stocks, 
bearing interest, to the amount of two hundred dol- 
lars ; and in order that no opportunity of improving 
the funds of the Society should be overloooked, a 
further sum of three hundred dollars has been de- 
posited in the hands of the Philadelphia Saving 
Fund Society. Thus all the funds of the Institute 
will be disposed of in a profitable manner, with 
the exception of a small balance, kept in the hands 
of the Treasurer to meet current expenses. 

The Board have annexed to this Report a copy of 
the Constitution, with such verbal corrections as 
were reported to them by the Committee appointed 
to revise its phraseology, at the meeting of the So- 
ciety on the 5th of February last. 

In conclusion, your Board beg leave to state, that 
a vacancy in their body having occurred by the re- 
signation of John C. Browne, of Kensington, whose 
distance from the place of meeting, rendered it incon- 
venient for him to join the Board, they have by vir- 
tue of Art. 10, Sec. 3, of the Constitution, elected 
Adam Ramage, a member of the Institute, to fill 
Mr. Browne's place. 

All which is respectfully submitted by 

R. PATTERSON, Chairman. 
W»f. Strickland, Secretary. 



REPORT 

Of the State of the Funds of the Franklin 
Institute of the State of Pennsylvania^ 
for the Quarter ending the 10th day of 
April, 1824. 

Receipts. 
From James Ronaldson, Esq. for Life Sub- 
scription, $25 00 

From 191 Members, annual contributions, 573 00 

S598 00 

Disbursements. 

Paid Jacob Zeilin for attendance and light- 
ing County Court Room, February 16, 
1824, S2 00 

Paid James Walsh, for services, . 6 50 

Paid James Walsh, commissions for 

collecting dues, ..... 7 95 

gl6 45 
Balance in the hands of the Trea- 
surer, 581 55 

g 598 00 

Errors Excepted, 

THOS. FLETCHER, Treasurer. 
Philadelphia j April 10, 1824. 






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